After the departure of the sisterhood of [[Our Lady of Kazan Skete (Santa Rosa, California)|Our Lady of Kazan Skete]] from St. Eugene's Hermitage to their present location, Bishop Tikhon blessed the formation of a male monastic community in October 1996 with Abbot Jonah and one novice. They have continued to live in the hermitage since, although plans to move have been presented and funds asked for to this end.

After the departure of the sisterhood of [[Our Lady of Kazan Skete (Santa Rosa, California)|Our Lady of Kazan Skete]] from St. Eugene's Hermitage to their present location, Bishop Tikhon blessed the formation of a male monastic community in October 1996 with Abbot Jonah and one novice. They have continued to live in the hermitage since, although plans to move have been presented and funds asked for to this end.

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The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. The community conducts retreats, lectures, maintains a small online store and publishes a journal entitled ''Divine Ascent''. Currently the Monastery has one priestmonk, Abbot Jonah, as well as four stavrophore ([[small schema]]) [[monk]]s, two [[riasaphore]] monks, eight [[novice]]s and two [[priest]]-[[novice]]s.

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The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. The community conducts retreats, lectures, maintains a small online store and publishes a journal entitled ''Divine Ascent''. Currently the Monastery has two priestmonks, Abbot Jonah and [[Riasphore]] [[hieromonk]] Alexander (Lisenko) as well as six stavrophore ([[small schema]]) [[monk]]s, one [[riasaphore]] monks, seven [[novice]]s and one [[priest]]-[[novice]]s.

In May 2006, the brotherhood was able to begin proceedings to purchase a property in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's needs and also allowing growth [http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_3846916]; this was completed at the end of June, 2006.

In May 2006, the brotherhood was able to begin proceedings to purchase a property in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's needs and also allowing growth [http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_3846916]; this was completed at the end of June, 2006.

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===Weekends===

===Weekends===

*8am - Matins and Divine Liturgy

*8am - Matins and Divine Liturgy

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*Saturday 5pm - Molieben and Vespers.

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*Saturday 5pm - Great Vespers.

*Sunday 5pm - Vespers.

*Sunday 5pm - Vespers.

===Lenten Schedule===

===Lenten Schedule===

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*Monday: 7:30am - Morning Prayers

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*Monday: On Mondays the monks pray in their cells and keep morning silence.

After the departure of the sisterhood of Our Lady of Kazan Skete from St. Eugene's Hermitage to their present location, Bishop Tikhon blessed the formation of a male monastic community in October 1996 with Abbot Jonah and one novice. They have continued to live in the hermitage since, although plans to move have been presented and funds asked for to this end.

The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. The community conducts retreats, lectures, maintains a small online store and publishes a journal entitled Divine Ascent. Currently the Monastery has two priestmonks, Abbot Jonah and Riasphorehieromonk Alexander (Lisenko) as well as six stavrophore (small schema) monks, one riasaphore monks, seven novices and one priest-novices.

In May 2006, the brotherhood was able to begin proceedings to purchase a property in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's needs and also allowing growth [1]; this was completed at the end of June, 2006.

Contents

History

In 1951, a property was donated to the Metropolia, and was called St. Eugene's Hermitage. HmkDimitry began to live on the property, living a monastic life and attempting to build a monastic community. This was unsuccessful, and in 1968 Hieromonk Dimitry was removed from the hermitage and assigned to parish ministry.

After this, many other attempts were made at a new monastic community, none of which came to fruition. In 1980, work began on a new chapel at the hermitage, and in 1983 the Community of the Holy Cross, led by Mother Barbara, began to reside at St. Eugene's Hermitage. The chapel was finished in 1988, was consecrated in the same year, and placed under the patronage of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

In 1996, the Community of the Holy Cross moved to Santa Rosa and were renamed as the Skete of Our Lady of Kazan. In October of that year, the Monastery of St. John, led by Fr. Jonah, was established at St. Eugene's Hermitage, with two members of the brotherhood.

This brotherhood, like the sisterhood before it, also took hold and grew. In July 2004, Bishop Benjamin of Berkeley tonsures three members of the community to the small schema and one to the riasaphore. At this point, there are nine members of the community.

The brotherhood continued to slowly and steadily grow. By the middle of 2005, there were 12 members of the community, and the brotherhood decided that remaining at a hermitage - with an expected capacity of four - with a brotherhood of twelve was untenable, and began to look for a suitable property, hopefully in the Washington area.

However in May, 2006, the brotherhood entered into proceedings to purchase land in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's present and future needs; on June 26, the purchase was completed, and the brotherhood planned to move in by the end of July [2]. The first Divine Liturgy on the site of the new property was celebrated on July 2, on the feastday of St. John Maximovitch. As the monks moved to Manton, the brotherhood decided that St. Eugene's Hermitage would remain as a skete of the monastery, with Frs John and Silouan based there - the former to be more accessible, the latter in view of medical treatment. Fr. Silouan has since recovered and moved to the main monastery.

Since early 2007, the monastery has grown with the addition of two celibate priests, one of whom was made riasaphore during Lent of 2008. There are also a number of new novices, which has necessitated the beginning of a new phase of growth and expansion on the monastery property.

In January 2008, the brotherhood issued its first CD of music, recorded by its own choir and featuring American-influenced chant, entitled "The Eyes of All Look to Thee."

Daily Life

Weekdays

6am - Matins.

On Tuesday and Thursday, a Divine Liturgy follows.

5pm - Molieben to St. John, Vespers and Compline.

Dinner

Weekends

8am - Matins and Divine Liturgy

Saturday 5pm - Great Vespers.

Sunday 5pm - Vespers.

Lenten Schedule

Monday: On Mondays the monks pray in their cells and keep morning silence.

Usually Matins and Vespers are begun with 25 minutes of silent Jesus Prayer communally.
For all changes and variations due to the Festal Cycle, please see the monastery's website, which posts a weekly and monthly schedule which are both revised frequently.